Page 92 of Colton’s Inferno

In the distance, he could see the entrance to the ranch. Letting his foot off the brake, he slowed the car. Ted turned onto the lane, the chassis rocking as the tires climbed up and over the berm. He followed the dirt track as it wound up a hillside, and then, the house came into view.

He stopped next to the front door and put the gearshift into Park. After turning off the ignition, he opened the door. The grass was covered with dew, and his shoes were damp by the time he reached the porch.

Over the past week, Lucy had been able to sell all the livestock. He was glad that the animals were able to be placed somewhere that his grandmother would approve. The house itself was a different matter. The Harris family had lived in the residence for generations. Cleaning it out would take weeks—maybe even months. But he had agreed to let Lucy and her family take their time while sorting through their belongings. He didn’t care about the homestead. It was the land he wanted.

The secluded pastures. The thick woods. The property that ran all the way up to the Canadian border.

Outside came the crunch of tires on gravel. He walked to the kitchen. A cast iron pan sat on the counter. He lifted it, testing its heft. The front door opened.

“Boss. Where are you?”

“Back here,” said Ted, setting the pan down and leaning against the counter. “In the kitchen.”

He turned at the sound of footsteps. Stu Whittier stopped on the threshold. “What gives? Aiden almost shot me.”

“I didn’t know he had a gun. If I did, I would’ve told him to leave it in the car.”

“Why bring him with you in the first place?”

Ted was getting tired of Stu. The man never did see the big picture. He let out a long breath. “The sheriff had your fingerprints, and you were about to get arrested. I got you a car and my credit cards so you could get away. Now the cops aren’t worried about you coming back.”

“Why not just give me your car and some cash?”

“Think.” Ted tapped the side of his head. “How would I explain any of that?”

“You could say that I stole your car. Took your money.”

“But what happened if Sheriff Colton got suspicious?” He paused to let Stu think it through. “In bringing Aiden, I have a witness. We both have the same story. Nobody questions anything.”

“Looks like everything worked out in the end,” he said, laughing nervously.

“I guess it did work out.” Ted didn’t think that Lucy would ever sell the Five Steers to him—or really, anyone. Turns out, he was wrong. “The only problem is you. The cops won’t stop looking until you’ve been found.” Nodding toward the table, he said, “Have a seat.”

Stu dropped into a chair. “I’m glad that you aren’t mad. To be honest, I was worried that you were upset.”

“I never get upset,” said Ted. “Emotions make you soft. They’re a distraction. We’re in business. What we need to do is move product from Canada and into the States. Now that I have this land, it’ll be easy.”

“I can still help you move fentanyl. I just need to stay off the grid.” Stu paused. “Maybe I can just stay here. I mean, without the Harris family, nobody will be around.”

“You know…” Ted reached for the frying pan and wrapped his hand around the grip. “I think it’s best if you stay here. It’s the easiest way to tie up all our loose ends.”

“Good,” said Stu, turning in his seat. “This house is pretty nice, you know.”

That’s when Ted struck. He swung the pan, aiming for the side of Stu’s head. Metal hit bone. Blood splattered across the wall. Stu turned, his eyes wide. Ted hit him again, this time in the face. And again. And again.

Stu slumped to the side and fell to the floor. A dark pool of blood spread around his head.

Ted set the pan back onto the counter. He turned on a burner for the gas stove. A towel was looped into the handle of the fridge. He touched a corner of the cloth to the flame. Once the fabric started burning, Ted set the curtains alight. He moved to the living room and dropped the burning towel onto the sofa. Flames sprang up instantly. Hazy smoke filled the room.

Ted opened the front door and walked outside. He closed the door and went back to his car. He pulled away from the house and glanced once in the rearview mirror. Flames were already licking at the windows.

By the time anyone knew that the property was on fire, any evidence that Ted had been in the house would be gone. He was determined to become the biggest fentanyl dealer in the Upper Midwest. Buying the ranch was a huge step in making the goal a reality, and now nothing was going to stop him.

Not even the Coltons.

Aiden sat behind the steering wheel of his car. It was his first day back at work. And honestly, he was more than ready. As he drove, an alarm sounded from his phone. He took the cell from where it sat in his cup holder and glanced at the screen.

APB: unresponsive woman found on Enchanted Highway. Mile 15.